Process and machine for forming and affixing switch-contacts.



v W. F. HOSFORD; v P Boonss Ann lucmnn Foa fourmis AND AI'HxING swrrcn coN'rAo'rs.

LPILIOATIOI FILED 06T. 12, 1912.

Patented Mar. 17, 19M

W. P. HOSFORD.

PROCESS AND HACHINE FOB FOBMING AND AFFIXING SWITCH CONTACTS.

' Arrmcmxol rILnn bom. 12, 1m.

1,090,619. r APawntearrymr.17,1914

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v W. F. HOSFORD.

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR POBJING AND AFFIXING SWITCH CON'I'OTS.l

nmon'lox run 001.12, 1.912. 1 f Patented Mar. 17, 1914,

M'llz'amEHosford.'

I l, w. r. Hosronn. v K PROCESS AND IAGEINE POBV FDBHING AND APFIXING SWITGH GONTAOTS. APPLIUATIOI FILED 00T. 12, 1912. 1,090,619. Patented Mar. 17, 1914 1o slums-SHEET 4. l

.W F. HOSPORD. Pnocnss un MACHINE ron Pomme AND Aljrlxme SWITCH coN'rAcTs. APPLIOATID! IILED 06T. 12. 1912.

^ 1,090,619. `Patented Mar.17,'1914 10 SHEETS-BREST 6.

miami/mfom w3-MMV @y A T w. P. HosFoRn.-

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOB. FORMING AND APFIXING SWITCH CONTACTS. APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 12, 1912.

1,`090',6 1 9. Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

Mgt/MM l @y w. Innosfo'nn. PBQOIPBS AND HAGHINE FOB FORMING AND AFPIXING SWITCHA CONTACTS. APPLICATIOI FILED COT, 12, 1912.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

W. P. HOSPORD. PROCESS AND MACHINILFOB FORMING AND AFFIXING SWITCH CONTACTS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 12, 1912.

. Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

M'Zliamf'losford. @Lg/#JW @y 'A W. F. HOSPGRD. PROCESS AND MACHINE POR FORMINC AND APPIXINC SWITCH CONTACTS.

APPLICATION rum ooT. 12. 1912. 1 ,090,6 1 9, Patented Mar. 17, 1914. v 1o sums-SHEET 1o.

g UNITED STATES PATENTV- onirica.

'WILLIAM F. nosromi, or cnicaeo, iLL'INoIs, AssIoNoa "ro WESTERN nmornio COMPANY, OF NEW4 YORK, 'N'.

Y., A conPonaTIoN or ILLINOIS.

rnocnss Nn MACHINE ron lromaine AND aFrIxING SWITCH-CONTACTS.

Specication of Letters Patent.A

Patented Mar. 17,1914.

Application aied october 12, 1912. serial m1725533.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it -known that I, WILLIAM F. Hosronn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Machines for Forming and Aiixing Switch- Contacts, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to a process of and a machine for 'electrically welding contacts or the like, as for example platinum contactsto springs or other parts of electrical apparatus.

The object of my invention is .to rovide means by which contacts may be we ded in such manner that uniform results are obtained, and the work done automatically, economically both with respect to material and labor, and with rapidity.

My invention contemplates a sequence of operations in which` the end of a wire of platinum, or other material suitablefor electrical contacts, is pressed Aagainst the surface ofthe work upon which the contact is to be atlixed and said end of the-wire welded thereto by the passage of an electric current through the wire and the work; at their point of contact. After this welding operation the wire is cut, leaving a point of wire welded to the work. The next s tep 1n the sequence of operations is the shaping o f the Welded point, as for example giving 1t a conical point, a flat disk shape, or other desired form of contact surface.

In its preferred form, the machine which I employ in carrying out my inventioncomprises a reciprocating carriage which 1n its first movement carries` the `Work beneathv a hollow plunger having a chuck through which is fed the wire from which the contact point is formed. Thereupon said chuck presses the end of the wire against the surface of the work. In this position the wire and the work close the circuit between the clectrodesof the secondary of a transformer, and while in this position the primary circuit 'of fthe transformer is momentarily closed by means of a switch and the point of the wire is thereby welded to the work by the resultant flow of current. Thereupon, while the work is held down, the plunger is raised, which latter o eration is preferably employed as a means or feeding the wire through the plunger, thelower end chuck.Y The wire. is .then cut between the weld and thel end of the chuck byl means of shears or the like. The carriage is then moved into position below a hammer, which thereuponstrikes a blow upon the welded point, giving to the same the desired shape. The barriage is then returned to its initial position, readyto receive another piece of work to be operated upon. The work, after the contact has been given the desired form,` 1s preferably automatically removed from the carriage. r1age,.and the operation of the plunger, the shears and the hammer may be controlled byV a series of cams mounted on a rotary shaft. The work is referably placed on the carriage by hand, t ough I have in some linstances fed the work automatically. to the carriage.'` y

fTheseveral features of my invention may be more readily understood by.l reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichm Figure-1 is a front` elevation of a machine embodyiiigmy invention; Fig. 2 isa plan view of the machine; Fig. 3 is ya View in end elevation of the reciprocating slide or carriage and of the cam and lever mechanisms for-controlling the movements thereof, other parts being omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig. 4 is avertical 'section on of the plunger being provided with .a feed-` l The movement of the carvso the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, that is, substantially on the same line as that of Fig'. 4 but looking in the opposite direction; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation lof the cam mechanism for controlling the sequence of' operation` of the machine, as viewed from the right handend of the machine, parts being broken away and the cam shaft vand the shaft Iupon which certain of the operating levers are pivoted being shown in section; Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the machine; Fi 8 is a horizontal section showing thewire-cutting shears and the reciproeating slide in plan; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating the means for controlling the clutch that in turn controls the operation of the cam shaft, the parts being shown i-n position for continuous rotation of the camshaft; Fig. 10 is a detailed view,

' per tiecfroaethmu h whic'hthe wir@ isfed and. the hammer w ich` shapes Vthe point of Fig.'12 isa perspective view, partly brokenV away, of thecarriage; and Fig. 13 is a, perspective view of one form of sprlng y by the machine.

Alo

the contact being shown inside elevation;

showing a contact point as welded thereon Similar letters of reference lar parts throughout the several views. t

The sequence of operation of the machine is controlled by a series of cams secured to a rotary shaft 1. Said'shaft may bedriven in any suitable manner, and for thls purpose there is shown (see Fig. 1)" an electric.;

` be thrown .into operating engagement with Y sprin the member 9 by a pin 11 which extends .through a hole in the member 10. A leaf- 12, sh wn as 'a collar'which surroun s the sh ft 1, tends to press the pin 11 into one o the holes 13 in the clutch member 9, an thereby to couple together the two clutch members. Such clutching engagement of the members 9 and 10 is under the control of the two starting levers 14 and 20. coperatej that they can be setto produce either continuous or intermittent rotation yof the cani shaft 1. 1f continuous rotation fof the shaft .1 is desired, the lever 20 is 'tion in any suitable manner.

4 raised and the lever 14 is depressed, vas illus;

trated in Fig. 9, in which figure the machine is shown as set for continuous operation. f it is desired that the cam shaft 1 make one revolution only for each depression of the ystarting lever 14, the lever 2O is iirst depressed-and held in such depressed 'posi- The end 21 'of the lever 20 then engages the extension 19 of a pivoted stop. lever 18 and holds said leverl 18, against the tension of a spring \17, jout of the path of movement of the end of /the lever 14. The spring 17 is secured at one end to lan extension 16 of the lever `14 and at lits other end is secured toa point beyond the pivotal point of the lever 18.

The lever 14 is provided with a laterally extending cam finger 15 which, when vthe lever is elevated, projects into the path of .movement of. the radial extension 12 of the spring l2 and moves said spring outwardly to the position shown in, Fig. 10.- Thus asawning that the lever 20 is in the depressed 'l position, andl the stop lever 18 thereby moved' to 'the left of the position shown in Fig. 9, the momentary depression of the lever 14l releases the en'd 12"" of the spring,

refer to The' starting levers 14 and 2O so:

.whereupon the' pirr 11 is projected into one of the openings 13,l thereby clutching the shaftv 1 to the constantly rotating wheel 8.

Upon the lever 14 being released, the spring Y 17 raises the cam :linger 1 5 of the 'lever 14` into the path of motion of .the spring extension. 12, and when the shaft 1 has made Aone revolution the extension 12 rides over the cam finger llrand draws the pin 11 out o f the opening 13, thus uncoupling the clutch.` Therefore when the lever 20 is depressed the cam shaft l makes but one rev-v olution for each depression of the lever 14. However, vif the lever 14 is depressed and the lever 20 raised, the spring 17 throws the stop leverv18 underneath the end of the lever 14, as shown in F ig. 9, thus preventing the lever 14 from returning 'the cam finger 15 to its raised position. With the 'levers 14 and 20 thus set the clutches 9 and 10 remain coupled together and the cam shaft 1 is continuously driven. rlhus, when the lever 14 is operated, the shaft 1 and the various cams carried thereby begin to rotate,

Vthe rotation being' continuous if the lever 20 is in its raised position, but ceasing at the end of one complete revolution if the lever 20 is in its depressed position.

The work, as for example a switch-spring,

The rear end of theplate 23 1s provided with a work support suitable for holding the particular form of spring or other work which is to be operated upon. For use in connection with the switch-spring shown in Fig. 13, consistingof a strip of metal 25 having an opening 26, the plate 23 may be provided with a Work supporting block 27 having on its upper face a pin 28 which will extend in the opening 26 of the spring and thereby. properly position said spring. ,The block 27 may also be prI vided with an end flange 29 having a channel 30 for receiving and holding the endv of the spring. v The work-support 27 is preferably removable y from the block 23, being` secured thereto by a screw 31. Thus a support 27 suitable for holding the switch-spring shown in Fig. 12 may be removed and a support suitable for holding other work substituted therefor.

4The plate 22 of the carriage is secured in any suitable mannerto a slide 32 which extends from the front to the rear of the machine, and which is located in a guideway 33 formed in the bed ofthe machine. The slide 32 is adapted to be given a reciprocatory motionvby cams 34 and 35 (see particularly Figs. 3, 5 and 6) 4located upon the cam shaft 1, and arranged to engage the arms 36 and37 respectively of a lever pivoted upon the cross-rod 38. Said lever -is provided with a central hub or fulcrum 39 (see also Fig. 7) which surrounds the pivot rod 38. The lever arms 36 and 37 extend upwardly lfrom said hub 39, in different planes and upon different sides of the cam shaft 1, being preferably secured together at their upper ends by a. screw 40, thuscon stituting a loop which surrounds the cams 34 and 35. A spacing block 41 .may be interposed between the ends of the arms 36 and 37 in order to provide for adjusting the arms to compensate for wear of the arms and the cams. The lower end of the lever isin the form of an arm 42. which, at its extreme lower end, is provided with grappling jaws 43, 44 for engaging with a rectangular block 45 which is pivoted betweenl ears 46, 46 carried by the slide 32. The jaw 43 is integral with the arm 42, and the jaw 44 is pivoted to the arm 42 upon a pivot 47, said jaw being normally pressed into operative Vposition by a spring 48. Thus, as the shaft 1 and the cams 34 and 35 carried thereby rotate, the lever arm 42 is actuated and imparts a reciprocatory motion to the slide 32.

The machine is shown in position ready to receive the work to which the Contact is to be welded and ready to commence the cycle o f operations required for welding a contact point upon the work. The work, as'for example the switch-spring 25 (see Fig. 13) to which a contact point 25 is to` be welded is placed upon the carriage, and motion is imparted, to the cam shaft 1 in the manner hereinbefore described, whereupon said carriage is moved a slight dist-ance to the rear to bring the end of the spring 25 centrally beneath the upper electrode 49. This movement of the carriage is caused by the surface 34* of the cam 34 engaging with the lever arm 36. )Vhen the cam has rotated so that the surface 34b of the cam is in engagement with the arm 36, the carriage remains stationary under the electrode 49 for the purposeof permitting the welding operation to be effected. The next step in the cycle of operation of the machine conmechanism for accomplishing this weld-ingr sists in Vpresenting to the work the metal point which is to be welded thereto. The

operation can best be understood by reference to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 11. In the machine illustrated this is effected by feeding to the work the end of a wire fw, as for eX ample. a platinum wire. Said 'Wire is wound upon a reel 50 and is fed through the center of a hollowv plunger 51 which is enlarged at its lower end 52I in which is threaded the upper electrode 49. The electrode 49 is hollow and inclose-s the chuck- 53, which is provided with a. central opening, in alinement with the opening in the plun. ger 51, for the passage of the platinum wire. The chuck 53 isheld in position to gripl the wire by a spring 54 which bears between the electrode 49 and an adjustable collar 55 carried by the stem of the chuck.A

Upon the carriage being brought in position below the electrode 49 the plunger 51 is lowered to present the end of the plati num wire to the work 25 carried by the carriage. The raising and lowering of the plunger is controlled by a cam 56 mounted upon the cam shaft- 1. (See also Fig. 5.) Saidnc'amf bears upon the end of a pivoted lever L57, `the opposite end of which is operatively connected to the plunger 51. As lthe surface 56'i of the cam 56 rides over the/end of the lever 57, the plunger 51 is allowed to drop and the spring 58 presses t-he end of the-wire held by the chuck53 against the surfacev of the workV 25, the jaws of the chuck at this time being forced into gripping engagement with the wire. The platinum 'wire which projects a short distance from the end of the chuck thus completes the electric circuit from the upper electrode 49 to the lower electrode 59 upon which the end of the spring 25 is then resting. The leads 66, 60 from the secondary of the transformer are secured to the upper and the lower electrode respectively. The' leads 61, .61 from the primary of the transformer are attached to the switch-springs 62 and the switch-springs are closed and current thus momentarily turned on the primary of the transformer by means of the cams 63 carried by the shaft 1. The leads 60, 60 from the secondary of the transformer carry the current to the copper connecting block 59 and to the copper plunger 49 re- Y spectively. The end of the platinum wire aoy is thus welded to the work 25 by the resultl,

ing momentary flow of current through the secondary of the transformer. As soon as the weld is made the plunger 51 is raised by the further rotation of the cam 56.v

Meanwhile the work 25 is prevented from being lifted by the shear-blades 64, or by any other suitablexmeans, and hence when the plunger 51 is raised the amount of platinum required for making a Contact point is drawn out from the end of the chuck 53, the grip of the chuck upon the wire being `re la-xed to a. certain extent as theplunger is raised. Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 7, after the plunger 51 is raised, the shear-blades 64. 64'are operated to cut off the platinum wire, leaving attached to the spring the right amount for forming the contact point. The blades 64, 64 are mount-- ed op the ends of `the levers, 65', 65 which are pivoted together upon a pivot post 66. the shear-blades 64, 64 being normally held apart by the 'spring 67. One4 of the levers 65 is provided with flanges 65, 65 which overlap similar flages 65h, 65, of the other lever 65, the pivot post 66 passing through said flanges. The shears -are vertically adjusta'ble in order that tney may be adjusted to cut od the desired amount ofzwire to form the contact. In order to accomplish this the shears are held on the pivot post 66 by clamping nuts 68 and said post 1s threaded at its lower endinto a support 69, whereby the turnin of the pivot post l6 6 will raise or `lower t e same and thereby adjust the shears to the proper height. The shears are operated by the lower arm 70 of a lever similar in const-ruction to the lever hereinbefore described for operating the carriage slide. The hub or fulcrum 71 ,of said lever -(see also Fig. 7) is pivoted upon the rod 38 and the upperend of the lever is provided with the two arms 72, 73 which encircle the Y cam shaft l and are adapted to be engaged by the cams 74, 75, respectively. The operation of the shears cuts the platinum wire as before stated, leaving the proper amount of platinum on the springs -and leaving protruding from the end of the plunger 53 the same amount of platinum wire as before. After the wire is out the slide 32 is shifted to the rear by the further rotation. of the cam shaft. Before describing this next step of the cycle of operation, and referring more particularly lto Figs. 5 and 8, attention is directed to the fact that the slide 32 is preferably provided with a bracket- 76 which carries an adjustable pin 77 adapted, when the foot 78 is in its lowered position, to stop thereagainst and thus to bring the slide 32 to a stop with the spring 25 in exact position for the weldingv operation. The foot 78 projects laterally from the lower end of a plunger rod 79 and is guided in a guideway formed 'by an inverted U-sha-ped projection 80 of a block 81 secured to the bed of the machine. In order that the carriage 32 may be free to move to the. rear after the weldis made, it is necessary that the foot 78 be raised, and this is accomplished by means of a cam 82 (shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 5) carried by the shaft 1, said cam acting upon arms 83, 83 which extend horizontally from the upper end of the plunger 79, above and below the cam 82. To guard against the pin 77 being pushed against the foot 78 while said foot is being raised, the cam 34 which controls the slide 32 may have a depression on its surface as indicated at 34d. After the foot 78 is raised out of the way of the pin 77, the slide 32 is moved to the rear by the face 34c of the cam 34 engaging with the lever arm 36, by which movement the work 25 is advanced to a p0- sition underneath t-he hammer 84. The

"work or spring 25 is stopped in exact position for said hammer to operate upon, the platinum point by reason of the fact that the pin 77 engages the stop block 81 and the carriageis thus prevented from being accidentally moved beyond its proper position.

To insure that the pin 77 will press firmly against the foot 78 and the stop block 81 and thus accurately position the work beneath the weldin plunger and thel hammer, respectively, the jaw 44 is pivoted to the arm 42 and is acted upon by the compression spring 48 as hereinbefore described. It will be noted that in these positions the spring 48, operating on the jaw 44, is under compression, so that, even though there should be slight wear on the cams, their levers or the pivots thereof, the proper location of the work under the weldlng plunger and the hammer will not be affected. l

The operating faceof the hammer 84 may be given a contour adapted, when the hammer strikes the platinum point, to give the same any required contour. For instance,

to' form a conical point the operating face of the hammer 84 is depression 85.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, the hammer 84 is secured upon the lower end of a plunger-rod85, the upper end of which is guided vby a cro-ss ybar 86. The upper end of the plunger 85 is provided with an adjustable nut 87 between which and the cross bar 86 is placed a spring 88vfr01n which the rod is supported. The hammer 84 is thus normally held in its elevated position above the anvil 89. The rod 85 is provided with a collar 90 which fits in a suitable guide 91. A slidable sleeve 92 surrounds the plunger 85 and is normally held against the collar provided with a conical 90 by the tension of the coiled spring 93.

The sleeve 92 is adapted to be engaged at 92a by a pin 94 carried upon the lower end of a. lever 95. The lever 95 is pivoted upony the end of an arm 96 of a lever, the

opposite end of which has two branches 97, 98 which extend in the sameplane upon opposite sides of the cam shaft 1. The two branches 97 and 98 of the lever are secured together at their ends by a screw99 and the size of the loop formed by the branches 98, 99 may be regulated by a spacingblock 100. The branches 97 and 98 thus form a loop or strap adapted to be actuated by the eccentric cam 101 mounted upon the shaft. The rotation of the cam 101 thus causes the lever arm 96 to be raised and lowered. This operation is so timed that while the Contact point is being welded upon the work 25, the

arm 96 is lowered, whereupon-the'spring 102 which is secured tothe upper end of the lever 95 causes the pin 94 to engage at 92;a

with the sleeve 92. Further rotation of the cam 101 causes the lever arm 96 to be raised, thereby raising the sleeve 92 and compressing the'spring 93. The roller 103 journaled at the upper end ofthe lever 95-is in contact with an adjustable track 104. This trackj 104 is soadjusted that after the sleeve 92 is raised to a suitable height, and after the contact point upon the work has been centered beneath the hammer 84, the upper end of the lever 95 is moved to' the right, 'as viewed from Fig. 4, thus withdrawing the pin 94 from engagement with theA sleeve 92. The

' spring 93 thereupon causes the sleeve 92 to strike a blow upon the collar 90, thereby o yerating the hammer 84.- The 'blow of the hammer upon the contact point of the work 25vgives said contact point the desired contour, as, for example, that of the conical shaped point 25a shown in Fig.`13.` The work of forming a contact point upon the spring 25 is thus finished and the remainder of the cycle of operation consists in restoring the parts to their initial positions and in removing the spring from its supporting block 27. The slide 32 is returned by means of the cam 35 acting upon the lever arm 37,

and at the end of one complete revolution 4of the cam shaft 1 the carriage will have returned to the position shown in the drawings. During the returmmovement of the slide 32 a finger 107 projecting laterally from the front end of the slide momentarily depresses a plunger 105 which controls the passage of compressed air through a pipe 106. This momentary blast of air blows the out,

finished spring 25 from the block 27 andV leaves the block ready for the reception of another spring. The finger 107 is carried by a spring 108 which permits of the finger 107 riding over plunger 105 without operating the-same during the rearward move-` ment of the slide.

It will be noted that the various cams locatedupon the cam shaft l so coperate with their respective levers that after the parts actuated thereby have performed their functions the various parts of the machine at the end of a cycle of operation have been restored to their initial positions. Thus the cam 7 5 acts upon draw the lever arm from between the ends of the lever arms 65, 65 after the wire is and the cam 82 permits the lowering of the foot 78 after the bracket 76 has passed to the front thereof upon the return stroke of the slide 32.

The following is a brief description of the operation of the machine: The work, as for example the switch-spring 25, is placed upon the support 27 of the reciprocating slide 32. Assuming that they lever 20 is locked in its depressed position, ver 14 causes the 'clutch members 9 and 10 to couple the cam shaft 1 to the motor drive and said cam shaft makes one complete revolution. At the beginning of this rotation of the shaft 1, the cam 34 carried thereby en ages the arm 3 6 of the carriage operating aver and rocks said lever, the lower end 42 of which is connected to the carriage slide 32. Said slide is thus moved to the rear, and the carriage is stopped beneath the upper electrode 49. This electrode is secured upon the lower end of a hollow plunger 51 vwelded to said spring.

the lever arms 73 to withthe depression of the le.

through which the platinum or other-suitable wire for forming the contact is fed, said wire being gripped by the chuck 53 inclosed the copper electrode 49. The plunger 51 is lowered through the action of the cam 56 and the lever 57, wherebythe end of the platinum wire is pressed against the lsurface of the switch spring 25. Thereupon the circuit of the primary ofthe transformer is momentarily closed by cams located on the shaft 1, and the circuit of the secondary being cle-sed through the platinum wire and theswitchspring 25, the end of the wire is The plunger 51 is then raised, thereby feeding the, wire through the ychuck 53. The shear-blades 64 then cut the wire, said blades being actuated by a cam 74 which engages with the upper arm 72 0f alever and vthrusts the lower wedge-shaped end 70 of the lever between the ends of the levers 65, 65 of the shea-rs.

After the wire is thus cut, leaving a point welded to the spring 25, the slide 32 is moved, i

by the action of the camv34, farther to the rear and the carriage Ais brought to 'a stop with the welded pointbeneath the hammer 84. The hammer is operated to give a blow to the welded point by the eccentric cam 101 y which first causes the lever 95 to be lowered while the weld is being made so as to enf gage with'the sleeve 92 of the hammer-rod 85 and then to be raised. After the sleeve 92 has been raised a suflicient height, the levei` 95 is tripped thus releasing the sleeve 92, whereupon the hammer strikes a blow upon the platinum point giving it the desired final shape. The cam 35 then acts upon the arm 37 of the slide operating lever and said slide is returned to its initial position and the cycle' of operations is complete.

-What I claim'is:

1. The process of aixing contacts, which consists in welding the end of a platinum or other suitable wire t0 the part to .which the contact is to be atiixed, and cutting the wire so as to leave a portion thereof as a contact welded to said part.

2. The process of afiixing contacts, which consists in pressing the endof a wire from which the contact 4is to be formed against the work upon which theV contact is to be affixed; passing an electric current through the pointof contact of the wire and the work, thereby weldinnr the' end of the wire welded point to the desired shape.

4. In an electric welding machine, the combination with means, for pressingconas to leave a portion thereof as arcontact ,welded to said part, and then shaping the als tact-forming material against the surface of the work-upon which it is desired to atHxa contact, of means for passing a welding current through the point of contact of sald contactforming material and said work, thereby welding said contact-forming material to said work, and means for shaping the welded contact-forming material to the required form of contact.

5. In an electric welding machine, the combination with means for pressing a point of contact-forming material against the surface of the work upon which it is desired to airix` a contact of means for passing a welding l@ current through said point, and means for shaping said point to the required form of contact.

6. In an electric welding machine, the combination with means for welding the end of a wire of platinum or other suitable contactforming material to the work, of means for cutting the wire so as, to leave the point thereof welded to said work.

7 In an electric weldingmachine the combination with means for welding the end of a wire of platinum or other suitable contactforming material to the work, of means for cutting the wire so as to leave the point thereof'welded to said work, and means for shaping said point to a required formof contact.

8. In an electric welding machine, the combination with a pair of electrodes constituting the terminals of a source of welding cnrrent; of means for holding a platinum or other suitable wire in electrical connection with one of said electrodes and for pressing the end of said wire against the work while the same is supported in contact with the other electrode, thereby electrically welding the end of said wire to said work; and means for severing the wire so as to leave a portion thereof welded to the work.

9.' In an electric welding machine, the combination with a pair of electrodes constituting the terminals of a' source of welding current; of means for holding a platinum or other suitable wire in electrical connection with one of said electrodes and for pressing the end of said wire against the work while.

- the same is supported in contact with the other electrode, thereby electrically welding the end of said wire to said work; means for severing the wire so as to leave a portion thereof welded to the work, and means for shaping said welded portion to a desired form of contact.

l0. In an electric welding machina the combination with a carriage for feeding the work, of means for pressing the end of a wire of platinum or. other suitable contactforming material against the surface of said work in one position of said carriage, means for passing awelding current through the point of contact of said wire and work,

means for severing said wire to leave the point thereof welded to the work, means for shaping said welded point tothe required form of contact in a subsequent position of said carriage, and automatically operated mechanism -for effecting in proper sequence the movement of said carriage and the above mentioned operations.

11. In an electric'welding machine, the combination with a carriage for supporting the work; of a pair of opposed electrodes between which the work is adapted to be carried by said carriage, said electrodes constituting the terminals of a source of welding current; a plunger provided with means for presenting the end of a platinum or other suitable wire between one of said electrodes and the work while said work is 'supported upon said other electrode; cutting blades 'adapted to cut the wire between said work and the end of said plunger, when said plunger is raised; and automatically operated means for effecting in proper sequence the movement of said carriage into position,

the lowering and subsequent raisin of said plunger, andthe operation/of sai cutting blades.

12. In an electric welding machine, the combination with a carriage for supporting the work; of a pair of opposed electrodes between which the work is adapted to be carried by said carriage, said electrodes constituting the terminals of a source of welding current; a plunger provided with means for presenting the end of a platinum or other suitable wire between one of said electrodes and the work while said work is sup orted upon said other electrode; cutting lades adapted to lcnt the wire between said work and the end of said plun er, when said plunger 'is raised; a contact-s aping hammer beneath which said work is adapted to be positioned by said carriage; and automatlcally operated means for effecting in proper sequence the movement of said carriage to present the work between said electrodes, the

lowering and the subsequent raising of said plunger, the operation of said cutting blades, the movement of said carriage to present the work with the welded point beneath the hammer, and the operation of said hammer.

13. In an electric welding machine, the combination with a pair of opposed electrodes constituting the terminals of a source of welding current, a chuck carried by said electrodes, a spring normally closing the jaws lof said chuck into a yieldinggripping Yengagement with a contact-forming wire,

said jaws beinO arranged to tiofhtl grip the wire when the9 end of the saigne is pressed against the work supported upon the opposed electrode, means for reciprocating said i chuck carrying electrode toward and awa;T from said other electrode, whereby the end of the wire is pressed against and welded to electrode being in theform of a sleeve having an outwardly flaring mouth; a chuck fitting in said sleeve, the jaws of said chuck projecting beyond the mouth of said sleeve; a spring normally holding said jaws of the chuck into a yielding gripping engagement with a contact-forming wire; and means for reciprocating said movable electrode towardv and away from said stationary electrode.

15. In an electric weldin machine, the combination with a pair o opposed electrodes constituting the terminalsof a source of welding current, one of said electrodes being in the form of a sleeve having an outwardly flaring mouth; a chuck fitting in said sleeve, the jaws of said chuck projecting beyond the mouth ofsaid sleeve; a spring normall holding said jaws of the chuck into a yiel ing gripping engagement with a contact-forming wire; and means for imparting -relative motion of said electrodes toward and away from each other.

16. In anv electric welding machine, the combination with a hollow plunger for guiding a contact-forming wire; a sleeve secured upon the lower end of said plunger, said sleeve'having an outwardly flaring mouth; a chuck fitting in said sleeve the jaws of said chuck projecting beyond the mouth of said sleeve; a spring normally holding said jaws of the chuck into ayielding gripping engagement with a contact-forming wire; a

support located beneath said plunger for re-l ceivin the work to which a contact is to be welde said support and said sleeve constituting the electrodes ofa source of welding current; and means for raising and lowering said plunger.

' 17. In an electric welding machine, the combination with means for welding contact-formin material to a switch-part, of means for s aping the welded contactforming material into a contact, said means comprising a hammer having its face formed to give t e required shape to the contact and means for imparting a blow of said vammer uponl said welded contact-forming material.

18. In an electric welding machine, the combination with welding and cutting mechanism whereby a suiicient portion for forming a contact is cut from contact-forming material and is left welded to a switch-part, of means for shaping said welded portion mer having its face formed to give the required shape to the contact, and means for imparting a blow of said hammer upon said welded portion,

19. In an electric welding machine, the combination with a carriage for supporting the work; of a pair of opposed electrodes between which the work is adapted to be carriedby said carriage, said electrodes constituting the terminals of a source of welding current; means for accurately positioning said carriage for the welding operation; and means for welding a contact to the work supported upon said carriage.

20. In an electric welding machine, the combination with a carriage for supporting the work; of a pair of opposed electrodes into a contact, said means comprising ahambetween which lthe work is adapted to be WILLIAM F. HosroRD.'l

Witnesses DAVID LEVINGER, C HAs. F. 

